Nepal has named a new Kumari, or living goddess. Two-year-old Aryatara Shakya was carried from her family home to a temple palace in Kathmandu on Tuesday, where she was installed during Dashain, the country’s most important Hindu festival.
At just two years and eight months old, Aryatara replaces 11-year-old Trishna Shakya, who served as Kumari since 2017 and stepped down upon reaching puberty.
The living goddess tradition, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, requires girls aged two to four to meet strict criteria, including flawless features and fearlessness. During major festivals, the Kumari is paraded on a chariot, blessing devotees, including Nepal’s president.
«She was just my daughter yesterday, but today she is a goddess,» said her father, Ananta Shakya.
He added that her mother dreamed of a goddess during pregnancy, which the family took as a sign.
Aryatara will now live in seclusion at the temple palace, appearing in public only on special occasions. While former Kumaris often struggle to adjust to normal life, recent reforms allow them private tutors, access to television, and a small government pension once they retire.
